Two Bettendorf couples who lost their homes in a fire in September 2007 are suing Iowa American Water over a faulty hydrant they say increased the time it took for firefighters to get water on the blaze.

Randy Harter and Melodie Knights and their former neighbors, Harry and Georgette Bridgman, filed the lawsuit in Scott County District Court.

"Upon arrival at the scene of the fire, the Bettendorf Fire Department was unable to open the cap on the nearest fire hydrant to the subject mobile homes," the lawsuit says of the homes in the park at 1301 Devils Glen Road. "The Bettendorf Fire Department was forced to proceed to the next-nearest fire hydrant, which was approximately two-tenths of one mile from the scene of the fire."

The inability of firefighters to access the closest hydrant caused significantly more damage to the homes, the lawsuit says.

The attorney for the plaintiffs, M. Leanne Tyler, declined comment. A spokeswoman for Iowa American Water declined comment on the lawsuit. However, Lisa Reisen said, "providing proper and adequate fire protection in all the communities we serve is a top priority of Iowa American Water."

The fire was discovered at 1:32 a.m. Sept. 2, 2007, in an empty mobile home at Parkview Trailer City. On one side of the burning trailer was Trailer 19, occupied by the Bridgmans. On the other side of the burning trailer was Trailer 17, occupied by Harter and Knights.

It was the second fire in a year in Bettendorf in which problem hydrants played a role, records show.

The $3 million home of Michael and Mary Humes burned on Nov. 16, 2006, less than one month after the home was completed.

The Bettendorf Fire Department arrived at 1:27 a.m. Firefighters reported seeing flames in the ceiling area of the bedroom and fireplace. They sprayed water on the roof of the house within five minutes of arrival.

However, after 30 to 60 seconds, water pressure was lost, documents stated. Silicone was found clogging the hoses, nozzles and fire trucks. The silicone came from the recently installed water hydrants.

The company that insured the home, Lexington Insurance Co., is suing companies involved with building the house, as well as Iowa American Water.

The Humes couple donated $10,000 to the families who lost their homes in the mobile home blaze.